If former Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein had ever watched The Dark Knight, his favorite quote from the movie could have been from Gotham's District Attorney, Harvey Dent. Dent once said, "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain." That was before he burned half his face and tried to kill people in a rage of vengeance (spoiler alert).
Epstein took Dent's advice as he saw the writing on the wall during the 2019 season. The positive vibes from manager Joe Maddon and the rest of the 2016 World Series Champions were dwindling. Tough decisions were on the horizon. Not only did he not want to begin a process he probably would not be around to see through, he had no interest. As the 2020 season ended, he announced he would step down as President of Baseball Operations.
Enter his protégé, Jed Hoyer. Hoyer took the helm as Cubs President of Baseball Operations with a future decade on the line and in his hands. World Series heroes were on deck to be paid, and the decision was his. Could these players help bring another championship to Chicago? Or could their returns help him build a team he could call his own? As you know now, he chose the latter.
In 2021, extension and trade talks loomed over three specific stars. Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, and Kris Bryant all ended up being traded at the deadline for prospect packages. The rebuild (or "retooling," as we were told) was on. It has now been three years since those deals were made. Here is how our heroes are doing today and where our returns for them are now.
Cubs Acquired Prospects For Anthony Rizzo
After losing to the Reds at home, the Cubs were preparing to head to Washington, DC, for a series against the Nationals. But after ten seasons and a World Series championship, the team's unofficial captain, Anthony Rizzo, had been traded to the New York Yankees before they left.
Rizzo was someone Theo Epstein was familiar with during his time with the Red Sox. Likewise, Jed Hoyer knew him from his time with the Padres. It was a match made in heaven for Rizzo to join them in Chicago with the Cubs. For a decade, Rizzo led the team on and off the field, perfectly exemplifying grit, compassion, and leadership. Attempting to describe what he meant to the fan base, the city, and surrounding communities would do no justice to him. But with no agreement on an extension, a move had to be made.
Still with the Yankees after signing an extension, Rizzo has dealt with a few injuries. Currently, he is on the IL with a fractured right forearm. It is questionable if he will be able to play when he returns to Wrigley Field for the first time since the trade in September.
In return, the Cubs received two prospects - outfielder Kevin Alcántara and pitcher Alexander Vizcaíno. Alcántara is currently with the AA Tennessee Smokies, batting .276 with nine home runs, and continues to display major-league tendencies.
Vizcaíno, on the other hand, played just one game for the South Bend Cubs. Almost immediately after the trade, he was put on the restricted list after failing to report. The rumor is he only wanted to pitch for the Yankees. Vizcaíno was last seen throwing in the Dominican Winter League this past winter.
Javy Baez Swapped For Mets' Top Prospect
The next fan favorite to leave town was superstar shortstop Javier Baez. Baez was a home-grown talent known for his confident flare and electric plays during one of the greatest eras of baseball in Cubs' history. Because of the attention he drew, fans quickly latched onto him as a favorite. He made some questionable decisions at the plate, but he always made up for them in the field.
Jed Hoyer and the Cubs brass tried to get an extension done with Baez before the 2020 team. However, he declined. Talks did not go any further between the two sides, and he was packaged with starting pitcher Trevor Williams in a trade that sent them to the New York Mets. In return, the Cubs received the best prospect the Mets had to offer.
Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong quickly made a name for himself with the Cubs. After putting up incredible numbers in 2022 and 2023, he was a late-season call-up to help the Cubs reach the playoffs. Both PCA and the Cubs were unsuccessful. PCA did not start 2024 on the Cubs, but after a brief stint earlier in the year, he seems to be on the roster for good. He is a perfect 19-19 in stealing bases and covers a ridiculous amount of real estate in the outfield. He is undoubtedly a key player for the Cubs and their plans.
As for Baez, it is not going as planned. He signed a 6-year deal with the Detroit Tigers valuing $140 million. Since then, he is batting .221 with 30 home runs and 324 strikeouts. His average is just .178 this season, with four home runs and 52 strikeouts. He is set to make his first return to Wrigley Field in August.
Cubs' "Retooling" Official With Kris Bryant Trade
After years of what can only be described as unnecessary turmoil, the Cubs mercifully traded Kris Bryant to the San Francisco Giants, ending his career. It all began when the Cubs held Bryant down to start 2015 to gain an extra year of service time. Then, as Bryant became increasingly popular (and really good), the pressure was on to keep him and make him one of the greats. Obviously, that never materialized for one reason or another. Instead, Bryant and the Cubs would part ways and move on.
Bryant was the Rookie of the Year, NL MVP, and World Series champion in the first two seasons of his career. The unfair expectations that he would be the savior of the North Side were remarkably being met. But as time passed and the off-field drama of contract talks and the he-said-she-said game grew, it had to take a toll on his game and mental mindset. Bryant signed a seven-year deal with the Colorado Rockies to begin 2022. He has returned to Chicago three times since the trade and has received standing ovations in every single at-bat.
In return for Bryant, the Cubs acquired outfield prospect Alexander Canario and pitching prospect Caleb Kilian. From what we've seen thus far, Canario looks like a major-league player. In a couple of separate stints with the Cubs in Chicago, he is batting .286 with an OPS of .857. Kilian has only made six appearances since coming to the Cubs. He was expected to be someone to help the 2024 team, but an injury set him back for an extended period of time. He is expected to be back in the mix soon after completing rehab assignments.
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